Moving TO IL ... Help Deciding Where (Chicago, Peoria: relocation, agriculture, jobs)

[jillstrading]

We want to move to IL, but can't decide where. We are an older couple, with a boy age 8, and a girl age 5. I am a sahm, but would like to find something, I can do at home. My dh is working for a manufacturer of small engines as a machine operator. He is expecting to loose his job, along with many others, and was told that they will not be called back to work (company moving overseas). He just turned 50, and is looking to find a job with a company (manufacturing) until he is ready to retire.

My main concern is that we find a safe, and kid friendy area. Any information is greatly appreciated.

[Switch625]

I would recommend Bloomington-Normal, Champaign-Urbana, or Peoria. All three areas have a humming economy, a nicely diverse business sector, and excellent housing at fairly affordable prices. Peoria is the largest city of those I listed, and it has the heaviest concentration of manufacturing of the three. B-N and C-U are more concentrated on a mix of high tech, agribusiness, and university centered services, with some manufacturing. B-N has a slightly larger population than C-U, but a smaller university. Because of the influence of the large University of Illinois, C-U has the heaviest focus of the three on high technology and the lowest on manufacturing.

All three areas are great places to live, with the following caveats: If you relocate to the Peoria area, I would suggest living in the suburbs. If you relocate to Bloomington-Normal, I would suggest living in Normal. For Champaign-Urbana, stay away from the University campus (students) and the Bradley Avenue corridor (urban blight).

[llama214]

Everything that the previous poster listed is very true. If anything, stay away from Chicagoland. Believe us when we tell you that B-N and C-U have everything that the suburbs can offer and more.

Our education, both primary and secoundary, is some of the best in the state, but we pay little in the way of taxes for it! Bloomington-Normal have tons of new schools, including a state of the art, new high school, and two colleges that are nationally known for producing premier teachers and educators. And guess where they start teaching? Right here!

Peoria is for sure your best bet with the job, but many people work in Peoria, but make the one hour comute back to Bloomington. It is a dull drive, but it is an option. Bloomginton has a huge Mitsubishi faciliy, where the Ecclipse, and the Spider are built. Which are the vehicles that have helped save the company. It is big and offer more white collar jobs, but as a whole have a decent blue collar workfroce.

Like I said, DuPage county(Chicagoland) is a mess.

Look at these figures:
McClean County: 1174.05 square miles
1/102 biggest county in the state
Pop: 159,013 as of 2005

Champaign County: very similar to to the statistics of McClean as it is also one of the biggest counties in the state

DuPage: 333.51 square miles
87/102 one of the smallest in the state
Pop:929,113 as of 2005

Don't be fooled when people from DuPage tell you that there is wide open spaces, and room for all. McClean and Champaign counties offer big, historic, and premier cities, with lots, and lots, of open space for breathing.

[Paxtonian]

Your husband's skills are in demand here in Ford County- the Solae Company and also the Alamo Group of Gibson city would hire him on the spot. Look up Gibson City, you'll like what you see.

[nanannie]

jill,I also notice your post saying you are moving to Iowa and Minnesota so I can only assume you have not decided.I hope you will visit all the areas and decide for yourself.I will tell you there are many nice areas in the Chicago suburbs Moderator cut: personal attacks

[Switch625]

Msheidi, Moderator cut: personal attacks You are mistaking your opinion for fact. Yes there is agriculture. But you know, those cornfields you say are so awful are where your food comes from. So please have a little respect for the land that brings you the salted corn snacks you enjoy so much.

[j33]

Well, I'm still perplexed by the supposed Dupage county conspiracy, simply look where there are jobs (probably the most important thing, a decent manufacturing job seems to be harder and harder to come by) and decent schools and ignore the rantings of those who, have their issues. There are plenty of safe kid friendly areas with cultural opportunities that offer a high quality of life and are a bit more of a rural/suburban both around Chicago and downstate. Good luck.

[Steve-o]

Here we go again....

Jillstrading, there is a reason 8 million people call the Chicagoland area home. Dont be fooled by people telling you that the area is bad or whatnot, its absolutely FALSE. Its evident by the population, its a great place to live. If you want more info on towns, feel free to PM me. Also, how much are you willing to spend on a house?

[Switch625]

I don't have anything against people who live in Chicagoland. That is the place for them. The little town of Saint Joseph is the place for me. Each of us has different needs and desires in our life, and in my opinion it is a wonderful thing that there are places in this great state for both of us. I don't see the need to hate on each other.

[OakBrookMom]

Well, if anything you have learned that Illinois is full of passionate people. We love our sports, our towns, our cultures, and our food. I think the driving force behind your relocation needs to be the job opportunities. I would look into the future too. If your husband finds a job quickly in one place you need to look ahead and think - what will happen if this plant gets closed - are there any other opportunities where we are looking? So really look with an eye to the future whereever you decide to live. There are many areas in Illinois that still offer opportunities in manufacturing so once he gets an idea of different areas that he can definitely find work you will need to look at the area and determine if you can afford to live there or if you even want to live there. Once you've narrowed it down come back to this site, then you should receive advice that is more on point. Good Luck to you.